Media critic

Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out at Voice of America and Radio Free Asia at a press conference on Friday, saying the news programmes were “inferior”, inaccurate and unfair.

In response to a question about allegations that he has interfered in the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s work and halted its third case, the premier said VOA and RFA reporters needed to “insult” the ruling Cambodian People’s Party in order to draw salaries.

“If [VOA and RFA] did not insult the CPP, they wouldn’t have a salary ... If [you have] no salary, come to work for the local radio and I will pay the salary,” Hun Sen said. “You are Khmer, you speak Khmer, you should do something according to Khmer values.”

Hun Sen also said that he would rather see the court fail than its trials cause war.

“I used to speak out that the trial against the former Khmer Rouge leaders must ensure peace and national reconciliation,” he said.  

VOA responded to Hun Sen’s comments in a statement by saying that its journalists “adhere to the highest journalistic standards of accuracy and objectivity, standards mandated by US law”.